Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO780
2008-03-21 07:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN'S PARTICIPATION AT DAMASCUS ARAB LEAGUE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #0780 0810757 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 210757Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2767 INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 0358 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2335 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0291 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0307 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0513 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0370 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 8943 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000780
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EAP/J FOR YANG, NEA/RA FOR SHAUNFIELD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2018
TAGS: PREL SI AL JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S PARTICIPATION AT DAMASCUS ARAB LEAGUE
SUMMIT
REF: A. TOKYO 779
B. STATE 28407
C. 07 TOKYO 3078
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000780
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EAP/J FOR YANG, NEA/RA FOR SHAUNFIELD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2018
TAGS: PREL SI AL JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S PARTICIPATION AT DAMASCUS ARAB LEAGUE
SUMMIT
REF: A. TOKYO 779
B. STATE 28407
C. 07 TOKYO 3078
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
1. (C) Japan's Special Envoy for the Middle East, Ambassador
Tatsuo Arima, is planning to attend the Arab Summit meeting
March 29-30 in Damascus as an observer, confirmed MOFA First
Middle East Division Principal Deputy Director Akihiro Tsuji.
Per ref B, Embassy Tokyo political officer told Tsuji that
we hope Arima reconsiders his decision, as his presence at
the summit will be used by the Syrian regime to demonstrate
to its people and others that Syria is not being isolated as
a result of its policies in the region. Also mentioned was
the fact that some Arab countries and international
organizations, including the United Nations and European
Union, are sending lower level delegations to the meeting.
Finally, political officer noted that Japan International
Cooperation Agency President Sadako Ogata visited Damascus
just last week despite our protests, and a photograph of her
meeting with President al-Asad had appeared on the front page
of the Syrian Times (ref A).
2. (C) Tsuji replied that he understands our point of view
and will convey our message to First Middle East Division
Director Masahiro Mikami, Middle East Bureau Director General
Norihiro Okuda, and to Ambassador Arima. However, his
personal opinion is that Ambassador Arima will opt to attend.
He said that large multilateral meetings of Middle Eastern
countries provide Arima with a good opportunity to meet
individually with a number of important regional leaders at
one time, an important factor given the distance to the
region and Arima's age. Although no meetings have yet been
confirmed, Tsuji said Arima has requested bilaterals with
Jordan's King Abdallah and the Palestinian Authority's
President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad.
3. (C) Tsuji said he had heard that some Arab countries are
downgrading their delegations due to pique over Syria's
policies in Lebanon and the wider region, but said he
understood that United Nations Secretary General Ban ki-Moon
is planning to attend the meeting, and asked for information
on who from the European Union plans to go. He seemed to be
unaware of the fact that Ogata's photo with Asad had appeared
in the Syrian media. Tsuji also noted that following Arima's
visit to Damascus, he plans to travel to Washington where he
has requested meetings with Deputy Secretary Negroponte and
NEA Assistant Secretary Welch.
4. (C) COMMENT: We believe it would be helpful to reinforce
this demarche in Washington and recommend the matter be
discussed with the Japanese Embassy there. If Arima cannot
be persuaded to reconsider, then perhaps he should be
provided with some talking points we'd like him to make.
Embassy reminds Department that in addition to Ogata's recent
visit to Damascus, Senior Vice Minister Katsuhito Asano
traveled there last June and met with Asad despite our
demarches (ref C). Finally, if Arima does go, and if he
subsequently has meetings in the Department, perhaps it would
be a good time to press him again for tangible support and
material assistance for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
END COMMENT.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EAP/J FOR YANG, NEA/RA FOR SHAUNFIELD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2018
TAGS: PREL SI AL JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S PARTICIPATION AT DAMASCUS ARAB LEAGUE
SUMMIT
REF: A. TOKYO 779
B. STATE 28407
C. 07 TOKYO 3078
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
1. (C) Japan's Special Envoy for the Middle East, Ambassador
Tatsuo Arima, is planning to attend the Arab Summit meeting
March 29-30 in Damascus as an observer, confirmed MOFA First
Middle East Division Principal Deputy Director Akihiro Tsuji.
Per ref B, Embassy Tokyo political officer told Tsuji that
we hope Arima reconsiders his decision, as his presence at
the summit will be used by the Syrian regime to demonstrate
to its people and others that Syria is not being isolated as
a result of its policies in the region. Also mentioned was
the fact that some Arab countries and international
organizations, including the United Nations and European
Union, are sending lower level delegations to the meeting.
Finally, political officer noted that Japan International
Cooperation Agency President Sadako Ogata visited Damascus
just last week despite our protests, and a photograph of her
meeting with President al-Asad had appeared on the front page
of the Syrian Times (ref A).
2. (C) Tsuji replied that he understands our point of view
and will convey our message to First Middle East Division
Director Masahiro Mikami, Middle East Bureau Director General
Norihiro Okuda, and to Ambassador Arima. However, his
personal opinion is that Ambassador Arima will opt to attend.
He said that large multilateral meetings of Middle Eastern
countries provide Arima with a good opportunity to meet
individually with a number of important regional leaders at
one time, an important factor given the distance to the
region and Arima's age. Although no meetings have yet been
confirmed, Tsuji said Arima has requested bilaterals with
Jordan's King Abdallah and the Palestinian Authority's
President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad.
3. (C) Tsuji said he had heard that some Arab countries are
downgrading their delegations due to pique over Syria's
policies in Lebanon and the wider region, but said he
understood that United Nations Secretary General Ban ki-Moon
is planning to attend the meeting, and asked for information
on who from the European Union plans to go. He seemed to be
unaware of the fact that Ogata's photo with Asad had appeared
in the Syrian media. Tsuji also noted that following Arima's
visit to Damascus, he plans to travel to Washington where he
has requested meetings with Deputy Secretary Negroponte and
NEA Assistant Secretary Welch.
4. (C) COMMENT: We believe it would be helpful to reinforce
this demarche in Washington and recommend the matter be
discussed with the Japanese Embassy there. If Arima cannot
be persuaded to reconsider, then perhaps he should be
provided with some talking points we'd like him to make.
Embassy reminds Department that in addition to Ogata's recent
visit to Damascus, Senior Vice Minister Katsuhito Asano
traveled there last June and met with Asad despite our
demarches (ref C). Finally, if Arima does go, and if he
subsequently has meetings in the Department, perhaps it would
be a good time to press him again for tangible support and
material assistance for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
END COMMENT.
SCHIEFFER